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Leveson report divides UK govt

Mary GearinUpdated
Fri 30 Nov 2012, 8:39 AM AEDT

In Britain Lord Justice Leveson has released his landmark report into press regulation. He's proposed an independent body underpinned by a new law. It's already caused a serious split in the conservative government.

Transcript

TONY EASTLEY: The phone hacking in the UK shocked the nation. Now the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry into the British media threatens to drive a bitter wedge into the Conservative government led by David Cameron.

In his landmark report Lord Justice Leveson proposes the establishment of an independent body, underpinned by new legislation.

That has already caused a split between the conservatives and their Liberal Democrat partners.

Europe correspondent Mary Gearin reports from London.

MARY GEARIN: Lord Justice Leveson took aim at what he called sometimes devastating media conduct he'd studied over 88 days of evidence.

LORD LEVESON: This has damaged the public interest, caused real hardship and on occasion wreaked havoc in the lives of innocent people.

MARY GEARIN: While the report makes a range of proposals to reform press relationships with police and politicians, it calls for the one measure sure to elicit cries from Fleet Street - a new law to underpin an independent regulator.

Lord Justice Leveson anticipated being misrepresented on this point.

LORD LEVESON: This is not and cannot reasonably or fairly be characterised as statutory regulation of the press. I am proposing independent regulation of the press organised by the press itself, with a statutory process to support press freedom, provide stability and guarantee for the public that this new body is independent and effective.

MARY GEARIN: But a few hours later in parliament UK prime minister David Cameron resisted such a measure.

DAVID CAMERON: For the first we would have crossed the Rubicon of writing elements of press regulation into the law of the land.

The danger is that this would create a vehicle for politicians, whether today or some time in the future, to impose regulation and obligations on the press - something that Lord Justice Leveson himself wishes to avoid.

MARY GEARIN: The report precipitated a split in the governing coalition. The deputy PM Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, got to his feet to disagree.

NICK CLEGG: Changing the law is the only way to give us all assurance that the new regulator isn't just independent for a few months or years but is independent for good.

LORD HUNT: We have to set up the new independent regulatory structure with effective sanctions and teeth.

MARY GEARIN: So you seem to be saying that you don't necessarily agree with it but you will adopt it and try and make it the best it can be.

LORD HUNT: Ah but I don't want statutes. I think it's up to the press now to demonstrate that they can hold themselves to account.

MARY GEARIN: If the recommendations are carried out, the new regulator would have the power to fine publishers up to 1 per cent of turnover with a maximum of $1.5 million if they're guilty of serious or systemic breaches.

Unlike Australia's Finkelstein inquiry, recommending compulsory membership for large news publishers, the Leveson report prefers an incentive system in that any publisher who doesn't sign up to the regulator and use its arbitration system in the case of a complaint would potentially face greater costs if taken to court.

Lord Justice Leveson will now be packing his bags for Australia to fulfil some speaking engagements, leaving a tumultuous debate about freedom of speech in his wake.